Thomas Hobbes
English philosopher (1588 to 1679), born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire; best known for his political philosophy in Leviathan; translated Thucydides into English.
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What they believe
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Words are tools the wise reckon with, but fools treat them as money, valuing them by the authority of famous names
For words are wise mens counters, they do but reckon by them: but they are the mony of fooles, that value them by the authority of an Aristotle, a Cicero, or a Thomas, or any other Doctor whatsoever, if but a man.
gutenberg.orgSaid c. 1651This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 8 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
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Words are tools the wise reckon with, but fools treat them as money, valuing them by the authority of famous names
For words are wise mens counters, they do but reckon by them: but they are the mony of fooles, that value them by the authority of an Aristotle, a Cicero, or a Thomas, or any other Doctor whatsoever, if but a man.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
A general inclination of all humankind is a perpetual, restless desire of power after power that ends only in death
So that in the first place, I put for a generall inclination of all mankind, a perpetuall and restlesse desire of Power after power, that ceaseth onely in Death.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
Nature made people so equal in body and mind that no one can claim a benefit another cannot also claim
Nature hath made men so equall, in the faculties of body, and mind; as that though there bee found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or of quicker mind then another; yet when all is reckoned together, the difference between man, and man, is not so considerable, as that one man can thereupon claim to himselfe any benefit, to which another may not pretend, as well as he.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
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Without a common power to keep them in awe, people are in a state of war of everyone against everyone
Hereby it is manifest, that during the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called Warre; and such a warre, as is of every man, against every man.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
Without security, there is no industry, arts or society, only fear of violent death, and life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short
In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; no Instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force; no Knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
Where there is no common power there is no law, and where no law, no injustice; in war, force and fraud are the cardinal virtues
Where there is no common Power, there is no Law: where no Law, no Injustice. Force, and Fraud, are in warre the two Cardinall vertues.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
Covenants without the sword are only words and give no security
And Covenants, without the Sword, are but Words, and of no strength to secure a man at all.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
The papacy is nothing but the ghost of the dead Roman Empire, sitting crowned on its grave
And if a man consider the originall of this great Ecclesiasticall Dominion, he will easily perceive, that the Papacy, is no other, than the Ghost of the deceased Romane Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof: For so did the Papacy start up on a Sudden out of the Ruines of that Heathen Power.
Leviathan (1651) Said c. 1651
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